Confederate Congress, published November 14, 1864

In the House, on the 10^th, Mr. Sparrow, of Louisiana, offered the following, which was read, and on his motion, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

“A Bill to extend the Assessment of Prices for the Army to all Citizens of the Confederate States.

Whereas, the depreciation of our currency is in a great measure, produced by the extortion of those who sell the necessaries of life; and whereas such depreciation is ruinous to our Confederacy and to the means of prosecuting the war; therefore

“The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, as a necessary war measure, That the prices assessed for the army by the commissioners of assessment shall b e the prices established for all citizens of the Confederate States; and that any person who shall charge any price beyond such assessment shall be deemed guilty of a criminal offence, and be subject to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars and to imprisonment not exceeding one year.”

In the Senate Mr. Foote of Tennessee, introduced the following:

“Resolved, That while we should prosecute the present war with all energy and earnestness, reason’s of policy, justice and humanity alike require that the President should be armed with adequate power to offer complete amnesty to all such of the citizens and residents of the Confederate States as heretofore, under delusion or otherwise, have been hostile to our cause, or who are willing to come forward and take upon themselves the obligation to support our Government as good and true citizens.”

SOURCE: The Daily Conservative, Raleigh, North Carolina, Monday, November 14, 1864, p. 2

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: November 10, 1864

 Warm; rain and wind (south) all night.

Quiet below. One of the enemy's pickets said to one of ours, last night, that Warren's corps had voted unanimously for McClellan, and that New York City has given a majority of 40,000 for him. This is hardly reliable.

Mr. Foote offered a resolution, yesterday, condemning the President's suggestion that editors be put in the ranks as well as other classes. Now I think the President's suggestion will be adopted, as Mr. Foote is unfortunate in his resolutions. Mr. Barksdale (President's friend) had it easily referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Hon. J. A. Gilmer, North Carolina, is applying for many passports through the lines for people in his district. He applies to Judge Campbell.

Coal is selling at $90 per load, twenty-five bushels.

The vote referring Foote's resolution (on the exemption of editors) was passed unanimously, which is regarded as favoring the President's recommendation. Mr. Foote had denounced the President as a despot.

Bought two excellent knit undershirts, to-day, of a woman who gets her supplies from passing soldiers. Being washed, etc., they bore no evidences of having been worn, except two small round holes in the body. Such are the straits to which we are reduced.

I paid $15 each; the price for new ones, of inferior quality, is $50 a piece.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 328-9

Senator Salmon P. Chase to Charles Sumner, June 22, 1850

Northampton, June 22, 1850.

My Dear Sumner: I came here on Thursday evening, having left the Federal City the evening before at 5 P. M. I thought of notifying you of my coming but fearing my expectation might be disappointed and having the slenderest possible hope that you could meet here if I did, I omitted it.

This is a beautiful place and the Round Hill establishment is a delightful retreat for invalids. Mrs. Chase's health, however, I am grieved to say is not improved. She has been worse since she came than she was when she left Washington, though she is now mending again.

I was glad to hear from C. F. Adams that you intend having in Boston an earnest, efficient and well-established Democratic paper. I do hope you will. The cause of freedom in Massachusetts suffers greatly from the want of it, and the heart of the cause in this State is felt over the whole country. It seems to me that with a paper of the right stamp in Boston not only might Palfrey's re-election be secured but such a revolution wrought as would secure the election of the right sort of a Senator in place of Webster. How glad I should be to greet you as a Senator of Massachusetts!

I wish someone of your poets would give us a ballad of the Omnibus.¹ John Gilpin would serve as a model in part. Clay might be coachman, whip in hand — Webster on the box with him — Cass, footman or doortender; Bright, Whitcomb, Foote, Downs etc. etc. the team of twenty-four horses; — the passengers, California, New Mexico, Texas, Deseret. Could not a very effective piece be got up, on this idea by Hosea Bigelow, and well illustrated. Would it not have a run? I incline to wish so.

After the most careful scrutiny those of us who are opposed to the Omnibus Bill believe that it will be defeated by a majority of four votes at least. But those who favor it seem equally sanguine that it will pass by the same majority. Who is right will not be seen for several weeks, I fear — as the discussion moves on slowly.

I return to Washington on Monday, and hope to be in my seat on Tuesday morning.

Faithfully your friend,

[SALMON P. CHASE.]

Did you notice the strange blunder in Webster's Maine letter in regard to the geography of New Mexico? He says New Mexico extends from the mouth of the Rio Grande to El Paso and northwards etc. There is not a foot of New Mexico below the Paso; but there is an extensive district, 70,000 square miles as stated by Col. Preston now occupied by Mexicans, where no Texan ever was until this last winter. Strangely enough not one of Mr. Webster's authorities for desolation and barrenness cover this vast district at all. Maj. Gaines and the rest only traversed the State of Tamaulipas from the Nueces to the Rio Grande. How strangely Webster shifts and wavers and into what remarkable blunders he perpetually falls!

_______________

¹ The "Omnibus" Bill, the name popularly given to Clay's proposed measures of Compromise in 1850.

SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 213-4

Senator Salmon P. Chase to Charles Sumner, March 15, 1850

Senate Chamber, Mar. 15, 1850.

My Dear Sumner: Thanks for your note. I wish I could have the advantage of your presence here and its consolation also.

We are in the midst of sad times, but I hope in God. He, I trust, has not yet abandoned us to the madness or meanness of politicians.

We have had an exciting debate this morning. Calhoun on the one side, supported by Davis of Miss, and Butler, in everything except his personal charges, came to an open rupture with Cass and Foote. I hope, in this, he will persevere.

Petitions, also, on the subject of slavery were received and referred of such a character that King of Ala. and Butler of S. C. declared that they would no longer object to the reception of any petitions whatever.

There is evidently disorder in the pro-slavery camp; I have great hope for the best.

Yours most cordially,

[SALMON P. CHASE.]

I mean to speak and speak fully — but when I can't say. A junior Senator, especially of my stamp, has hardly a fair chance. I have not the readiness and self-consciousness of Hale.

What is to be done next election in the 4th district?

SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 203-4

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: March 27, 1863

This is the day appointed by the President for fasting and prayers. Fasting in the midst of famine! May God save this people! The day will be observed throughout the Confederacy.

The news from the West, destruction of more of the enemy's gun-boats, seems authentic. So far we have sustained no disasters this spring, the usual season of success of the enemy by water.

Mr. G. W. Randolph was the counsel of the speculators whose flour was impressed, and yet this man, when Secretary of War, ordered similar impressments repeatedly. “Oh, man! dressed in a little brief authority,” etc.

Mr. Foote has brought forward a bill to prevent trading with the enemy. Col. Lay even gets his pipes from the enemy's country. Let Mr. Foote smoke that!

A gentleman said, to-day, if the Yankees only knew it, they might derive all the benefits they seek by the impracticable scheme of subjugation, without the expenditure of human life, by simply redoubling the blockade of our ports, withdrawing their armies to the borders, and facilitating trade between the sections. We would not attack them in their own country, and in a month millions of their products would be pouring into the South, and cotton, tobacco, etc. would go to the North in vast quantities. I wonder the smart Yankee never thinks of this! Let both sides give passports freely, and an unlimited intercourse would be immediately established.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 280

As an instance of the ill feeling . . .

. . . of the Confederates against the rebel President, no longer ago than on Christmas morning an empty coffin was found on the steps of his front door. More recently according to the Richmond papers, his house was robbed, and two unsuccessful attempts were made to burn his dwelling. Vice President Stevens has had no intercourse with him for more than twelve months, and never visits his house. Foote, of the rebel congress, has denounced Davis in open debate. The Virginians are open in their denunciations of him for proposing to abandon that State and remove the Capitol to South Carolina.

{Brownlow.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, April 9, 1864